Parking-in and parking-out system and method for passenger cars

ABSTRACT

A system for operating a vehicle includes a motor control and a parking logic that is operatively associated with the motor control. The parking logic is configured to be remotely controlled to maneuver the vehicle, which is placed in alignment with a parking space and the steering of which is locked, into the parking space under a maximum speed along a straight line.

[0001] This application claims the priority of German Patent DocumentNo. 101 17 651.1, filed Apr. 9, 2001, the disclosure of which isexpressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a parking/parking-out system and method,particularly for compact city vehicles.

[0003] Compact city vehicles offer the possibility of utilizing parkingareas which have not been accessible to passenger cars. A specialadvantage of a compact city vehicle with its short vehicle length is thepossibility of parking the vehicle at the edge of the road transverselyto the course of the road. The required width of such a transverseparking space is determined by the vehicle width plus the space requiredto open the side doors.

[0004] For parking a motor vehicle parallel to the road direction,various automatic parking aids have been devised to assist the vehicledriver to steer the vehicle into a parking space. These known systemsautomatically measure, by means of sensors, an available parking spaceand emit in a computer-aided manner maneuvering information for thevehicle driver (German Patent Document DE-A1-3844340).

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a parking/parking-outsystem and method for parking passenger cars along a straight-line intoa parking space, making it possible for the vehicle driver to utilizeparking areas whose small width does not permit a person to laterallyexit from the parked vehicle.

[0006] According to the present invention, the vehicle is placed infront of, and aligned with, a parking space. After all vehicle occupantshave exited, the vehicle can be maneuvered using a manually operatedremote control rearwards or forwards into the parking space. Themaneuvering according the invention using the remote control also takesplace at a controlled parking speed in a visually determined manner. Thesteering system is locked for straight-line driving.

[0007] The solution according to the invention has the advantage that nocostly sensors for analyzing the environment and no devices to aidsteering are required. When a vehicle has the basic equipment of acomputer-aided motor control, such as a computer-aided engine controland any other computer-aided control system of the vehicle, and acontrollable parking brake, the parking system according to theinvention can be easily integrated as an accessory module in thevehicle. The remote control can advantageously be integrated in awireless locking system.

[0008] Because the present invention allows a vehicle to be parked in asmall parking space, economic advantages can be achieved for parking ofpassenger cars in parking garages which takes place by a forward orrearward straight-line driving.

[0009] Because of better visual control outside a vehicle, the inventionalso has advantages when objects, such as a lifting platform or atrailer coupling device, must be approached precisely.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 shows a compact vehicle suitable for the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 illustrates the functions of a wireless door locking systemof the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 3 illustrates a vehicle key having the control functions ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 illustrates a compact vehicle 1, which is equipped with awirelessly controllable door locking system 2 shown in FIG. 2. Tocontrol this door locking system, as shown in FIG. 3, remote controlfunctions are integrated in the vehicle key 3 equipped with atransmitter. The remote control functions include the “parking”,“forward” and “backward” functions. Furthermore, the vehicle 1 isequipped with a computer-aided motor control 4 which has a parking logic5 acting upon it. The motor control 4 electronically controls theactuators of the engine, a clutch 7 and a transmission 8 for adjustingthe gears. The engine actuators may include a throttle valve 6 for thefuel supply.

[0015] In addition to or as an alternative to the above-mentionedactuators, the motor control may also control an automatic transmissionhaving a torque converter and, instead of the throttle valve, may actupon other known electronic actuators for fuel injection.

[0016] Instead of supplementing an existing motor control 4 with theparking logic 5, a motor control with an integrated parking logic canalso be used according to the present invention.

[0017] As an alternative to the above-described expanded wireless doorlocking system, the remote control of the parking logic 5 can bereplaced by a wired control panel which, after the completion of theparking operation, can be stored in a secured container of the vehiclewhich is accessible from the outside.

[0018] For parking and parking-out, the parking logic 5 receivesinstructions wirelessly transmitted by the vehicle driver using thevehicle key 3. For this purpose, the standard door locking system 2 issupplemented according to the invention with corresponding reception andinternal output modules.

[0019] Before activating a “parking” function, the vehicle driver has toascertain that the vehicle position is suitable for parking.Furthermore, before the vehicle is exited, the steering must have beenlocked by the steering wheel lock and the parking brake 9 must have beenapplied. The latter conditions are monitored by the parking logic 5.When the vehicle is exited, the removal of the vehicle key 3 from theignition lock shuts off the engine. The engine start and switch-off byway of the ignition lock can take place alternatively as in the case ofa truck by way of a separate starting/stopping push-button. The parkinglogic must be coordinated with the ignition lock to accomplish thesefunctions.

[0020] Instead of manually locking the steering wheel by way of thesteering wheel lock, as an alternative, a steering wheel locking can beprovided which is electronically controlled by the parking logic 5.

[0021] The “parking” function can be activated manually by a push button11 on the vehicle key 3. After the push button 11 is activated, theparking function remains activated, and the parking logic 5 checkswhether the steering system is locked and the parking brake 9 isapplied. If these conditions have been met, the parking logic 5 causesthe motor control 4 to initiate an automatic idling start of the engine.Otherwise, the engine does not start.

[0022] After the engine has been started, the vehicle driver, bymanually activating the “forward” and “backward” functions, can move thevehicle back and forth in the direction of the arrow 10 along astraight-line. The activation of these functions takes place by means ofpush-buttons 12 and 13. The “forward” and “backward” functions remainactivated only as long as the corresponding push-buttons 12, 13 arepressed. This ensures a direct control of the vehicle. In case of amalfunction, such as when the vehicle moves forward instead of backwardor when it moves too fast, the vehicle can be stopped immediately byreleasing the push-button 12, 13. Furthermore, loss of control is alsoavoided when, for example, the vehicle key is dropped. Additionally oralternatively, the vehicle key may be equipped with a push-button for anemergency stop 1, which can also be used in case of a malfunction of theparking logic 5.

[0023] For displaying any malfunction, such as when the steering systemor the parking brake is not locked before engine start, the vehicle key3 or the wired control panel may be equipped with bidirectionalcommunication devices. In the case of the vehicle key 3, this meansthat, in addition to the transmitter, it also contains a receiver whichinteracts with a transmitter of the door locking system 2. In the caseof the wired control panel, these are corresponding input and outputinterfaces. The warning message can be, for example, visually indicatedby a simultaneous flashing of all push-buttons 11, 12, 13.

[0024] When the “forward” and “backward” functions are activated, theparking logic 5 causes the motor control 4 to engage a transmissiongear, open the throttle valve 6 to a limited extent and release theparking brake 9, to allow the vehicle to move forward or backward. Afterthe release of the push-buttons 12, 13, the vehicle is stopped by theparking brake 9. The vehicle driver controls the vehicle by, possiblysuccessively, activating the “forward” and “backward” buttons and by theduration of their activation. When the desired final parking position isreached, the parking operation is completed by another activating of the“parking” function, in which case the parking logic 5 and the motorcontrol 4 stop the engine and apply the parking brake 9.

[0025] The maximum speed for the parking is limited by the parking logic5 to, for example, 0.5 m/s. For this purpose, the parking logic actsupon the motor control 4 and upon the parking brake 9 to adjust thespeed by selectively applying the brake.

[0026] The parking brake 9 is equipped with a so-called “fail-safe”function which automatically applies the brake, for example, as a resultof a power failure or as a result of insufficient braking energy.

[0027] In an alternative embodiment, the push-buttons 11, 12, 13 on thevehicle key 3 may be toggle switches, rocker switches or similarelements and may have a visual indicator for signaling their activation.The operating elements for controlling the parking operation may becovered by a flap on the vehicle key 3, which flap can help to avoid anunintentional activation of the elements.

[0028] Furthermore, traffic safety can be increased by a parking systemof the present invention because during parking, the emergency flashingfunction, which is standard equipment in the vehicle, may be activatedby the parking logic 5.

[0029] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustratethe invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications ofthe disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of theinvention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention shouldbe construed to include everything within the scope of the appendedclaims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed:
 1. A system for parking a vehicle comprising: acomputer-aided motor control; and a parking logic, wherein the motorcontrol is expanded by the parking logic which can be remotelycontrolled by an exited vehicle driver such that the vehicle placed infront of a parking space, while the steering system of the vehicle islocked, can be maneuvered along a straight line into the parking space.2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control of theparking logic takes place by way of a vehicle key, which communicateswith a wirelessly controllable door locking system of the vehicle. 3.The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control of theparking logic takes place by way of a wired control panel which, afterthe completion of the parking operation, can be stored in a securedcontainer of the vehicle which is accessible from the outside.
 4. Thesystem according to claim 2, wherein the door locking system and thevehicle key are each equipped with a transmitter and a receiver, and anymalfunction detected by the parking logic is transmitted to the vehiclekey and is visually indicated on the vehicle key.
 5. The systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the vehicle key has operating elements forthe remote control of straight-line drive, which operating elementscause the vehicle to stop when the manual operation of the operatingelements is terminated or interrupted.
 6. The system according to claim5, wherein the operating elements for the parking functions can becovered by a flap when the operating elements are not in use.
 7. Thesystem according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle key has an emergencystop element.
 8. The system according claim 1, wherein during parkingoperation, the parking logic automatically activates the emergencyflashing function of the vehicle.
 9. The system according to claim 3,wherein the door locking system and the wired control panel are eachequipped with input and output elements for bidirectional communication,and any malfunction detected by the parking logic is transmitted to thewired control panel and is visually indicated on the wired controlpanel.
 10. The system according to claim 3, wherein the wired controlpanel has operating elements for the remote control of the straight-linedrive, which operating elements, when the manual operation of theoperating elements is terminated or interrupted, cause the vehicle tostop.
 11. The system according to claim 3, wherein the wired controlpanel has an emergency stop operating element.
 12. A system foroperating a vehicle comprising: a motor control; and a parking logicoperatively associated with the motor control, wherein the parking logicis configured to be remotely controlled to maneuver the vehicle, whichis placed in alignment with a parking space and the steering system ofwhich is locked, into the parking space along a straight line under amaximum speed.
 13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:a vehicle key for remotely controlling the parking logic, the vehiclekey including a transmitter that communicates with a wirelesslycontrolled door locking system of the vehicle.
 14. The system accordingto claim 13, wherein upon receiving malfunction information from theparking logic, the vehicle key visually indicates detection of amalfunction.
 15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the vehiclekey has operating elements, the deactivation of which stops the vehicle.16. The system according to claim 12, wherein during parking operation,the parking logic automatically activates the emergency flashingfunction of the vehicle.
 17. The system according to claim 12, furthercomprising: a wired control panel for remotely controlling the parkinglogic, wherein the wired control panel is configured to be stored, aftercompletion of parking operation, in a container of the vehicle which isaccessible outside of the vehicle.
 18. The system according to claim 17,wherein any malfunction detected by the parking logic is transmitted tothe wired control panel and is visually indicated on the wired controlpanel.
 19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the wired controlpanel has operating elements, wherein the vehicle stops when theoperating elements are deactivated.
 20. A method for parking a vehiclecomprising: aligning the vehicle with a parking space; stopping theengine of the vehicle and applying the manual brake; locking thesteering system of the vehicle; exiting the vehicle; and maneuvering thevehicle under a maximum speed into the parking space along a straightline by remote control using a parking logic of the vehicle which isoperatively associated with a motor control of the vehicle.
 21. Themethod according to claim 20, further comprising: using a wired controlpanel to remotely control the parking logic, and after completion ofparking operation, storing the wired control panel for remotelycontrolling the parking logic in a container of the vehicle which isaccessible outside of the vehicle.
 22. The method according to claim 20,further comprising: using a vehicle key to remotely control the parkinglogic, and indicating a malfunction on the vehicle key when the vehiclekey receives malfunction information from the parking logic.
 23. Themethod according to claim 22, further comprising: stopping the vehiclewhen an operating element of the vehicle key, which is being used tocontrol the parking logic, is deactivated.
 24. The method according toclaim 20, further comprising: activating an emergency flashing functionof the vehicle during the remotely controlled parking operation.
 25. Themethod according to claim 21, further comprising: indicating amalfunction on the wired control panel when the wired control panelreceives malfunction information from the parking logic.
 26. The methodaccording to claim 21, further comprising: stopping the vehicle when anoperating element of the wired control panel, which is being used tocontrol the parking logic, is deactivated.